The East African Community’s council of Ministers has been directed to expedite implementation of the framework for harmonised EAC roaming charges, including the removal of surcharges for international telecommunications traffic originating and terminating within EAC by July 15, this year.

EAC Heads of State made the directives in Kenya’s capital Nairobi during the just-conclude 16th ordinary summit.

In their communiqué, EAC leaders directed the council of ministers to study the modalities for promotion of motor vehicle assembly in the region and to reduce the importation of used motor vehicles from outside the community and report to the 17th summit.

The summit also directed the council of ministers to study the modalities for the promotion of the textile and leather industries in the region and stopping the importation of used clothes, shoes and other leather products from outside the region and report to the 17th summit.

Themed: “Deepening and accelerating integration: towards political federation” the summit noted the revised road map for the negotiations on the admission of the republic of South Sudan into the EAC and directed the council to ensure that negotiations are conducted in accordance with the revised roadmap.

The summit further noted that the verification exercise for the admission of the Republic of Somalia into the East African Community was not undertaken, as preparations with the government of the republic of Somalia have not yet been finalized.

The summit directed the council to undertake the verification exercise and report to the next summit.

The summit adopted the directives of the 3rd Retreat of the Heads of State on infrastructure development and financing in particular took note of the ten year infrastructure investment and resource mobilization strategy; and the inter-modal transport strategy.

East African leaders also appreciated the World Bank, the African Development bank and the European Union and other Development partners for their commitment and support towards the implementation of EAC priority infrastructure and the inter-modal transport strategy in the east African region.

The summit pursuant to article 24 (1) of the treaty for the establishment of the EAC appointed, Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire from Uganda as Judge of the East African Court of Justice (appellate division) with effect from August 16, 2015. Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire replaces Justice James Munange Ogoola, who will be retiring on 15th August 2015.

Source: IPP Media

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.